What Are We Waiting For?

There are a few things that I’m pretty sure everyone does.  One that everyone does on a regular basis (besides sleeping) is waiting.  Here are just a few things that we wait for.

1.      Child to be Born (talk to 9 month pregnant woman)

2.      In line at places like the Bank or MVD (Anger Management may be needed)

3.      Christmas / Birthday (watch kids)

Waiting is in the Bible a lot also.  Look at how long Abraham and Sarah waited to have a child! Think about how much God repeatedly waits for His people to return to Him!  He calls out to them again and again and waits for them to respond.  God is slow to anger (Psalm 86:15).  He is willing to wait on us even when we are hard headed (Makes you think about how you wait at the MVD).   Or, what about the 400 years of hard times and silence Israel endured waiting for the gift of Messiah!

And speaking of Messiah…what about the day in between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday?  This day that is labeled “Holy Saturday” on calendars.  The disciples were unsure of the resurrection.  While the possibility was most likely in their heads, they weren’t expecting it.  So Saturday I assume they were in the upper room waiting and feeling confused.  They were probably praying and meditating on what Jesus said to them the night He was betrayed.  They hadn’t dispersed yet. 

You see God uses waiting to grow us into mature believers.  Think about how much time you spend waiting for something or someone.  Now take a moment and think about how much of that time you waste. 

When Jenny and I were waiting for Sophia to be born we were constantly praying for her.  We were asking God to prepare us to be parents as much as possible.  I was getting her room ready putting all her furniture together.  We began to read books about parenting babies.  I read and meditated on scripture that speaks to being a good father (including what makes our heavenly Father good).

When I am in a line I take the time to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17) or read a book that’s point fits into this list:

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8, NASB95)

When I am waiting for a holiday such a Christmas or Easter I seek God with a more focused energy than usual.  On Holy Saturday I pray for people in my life and in general who are unsure about the resurrection of Jesus.

We do a lot of waiting in this life.  Let’s use the time well and remember that good things come to those who wait…